Back Pain

Some 80% of Americans experience back pain in one form or another over the course of their lives, which is why it’s the principal reason for disability and missed work. Whether you’re experiencing chronic or acute back pain, the quality chiropractic care offered by Dr. Dennis Miller at his practice, Dennis Miller, DC, provides noninvasive and effective solutions that will have you moving about freely in no time at all. If you’re in Austin, Texas, call or book an appointment online to get started.

Why is your back important?

Your back is responsible for most of the heavy lifting for your entire body, which puts it at great risk for injury and pain. To better understand how back pain originates, it’s helpful to take a look at the anatomy of your back.

The main supporting structure of your back is your spine, which is made up of 33 vertebrae that are divided into five regions:

  • Your neck, or cervical spine
  • Your mid back, or thoracic spine
  • Your low back, or lumbar spine
  • Your sacrum
  • Your coccyx

Surrounding these vertebrae is an incredibly complex system of muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, and blood vessels.

The back as a whole covers a wide area and is responsible for the support and movement of your entire body, with your low back taking the brunt of the work. It follows that injury or conditions that involve your back can have a wide-reaching effect on your entire body.

What causes back pain?

The most common causes of back pain include:

  • Sprain or strain
  • Spinal nerve compression, such as sciatica
  • Herniated or bulging discs
  • Degenerative joint disorders, such as arthritis
  • Accidents or trauma

Your back is almost constantly working, making it especially vulnerable to injury and pain.

How is back pain treated?

Chiropractic care centers on the spine, making back pain one of the most common reasons to visit a chiropractor. At his practice, Dr. Miller offers a host of treatments that are designed to alleviate immediate symptoms of pain and immobility, while also setting you up for future back health.

For back pain, Dr. Miller turns to several treatments, including:

  • Manual adjustments of the spine
  • Instrument adjustments of the spine
  • Massage therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Hot/cold therapies
  • Drop table adjustments

The goal behind Dr. Miller’s treatments is to correct the misalignments in your spine, or subluxations, that cause irritation in your nerves, impede function, and slow healing. By restoring your spine to its intended position, Dr. Miller enables your body to function freely, without pain and inflammation.

If back pain is hampering your day-to-day activities, call Dennis Miller, DC, or book an appointment online.